When using mantra meditation to enter the highest realms of enlightenment and spiritual realization, this book acts as a guide to speedy, obstacle-free progress. The focus is on the Hare Krishna mahamantra with an easy to understand and lively presentation of how to reach success in one's personal practice.

While there are numerous books providing instructions on how to meditate, few explore the lived experience of meditation like it is a phenomenological experiment. Home Grown Buddha is the outcome of the author's thirteen-year-long adventure in meditation. Like many adventures, the path of discovery required letting go of numerous big T truths and replacing them with an intentionally open mind. The author's insights, which are the result of the direct experience of non-doing, e.g., sitting purposely with an open mind, are not meant to be a set of directions, but rather, a signal to the reader to put aside the rule book and open to the uncooked feast of the commonplace. While the author intends no sectarian agenda, there is still grounding in the no-brand traditions of Buddhism, yoga, mysticism, and modern psychology without the obfuscation of Sanskrit or Pali terminology. For a novice meditator, Home Grown Buddha contains a treasure trove of line-by-line details of particular techniques actually used by the author in his experiments, as well as a few useful markers discovered in the mysterious silence of unknowing that is sitting meditation. These markers are not intended to be hard and fast, but more like gentle hints to trust the process. The author considers himself a humble student and only wishes to share his insights with the reader as a co-meditator and fellow seeker.

The Five Classics associated with Confucius formed the core curriculum in the education of Chinese literati throughout most of the imperial period. In this book Michael Nylan offers a sweeping assessment of these ancient texts and shows how their influence spread across East Asia. Nylan begins by tracing the formation of the Five Classics canon in the pre-Han and Han periods, 206 B.C.-A.D. 220, revising standard views on the topic. She assesses the impact on this canon of the invention of a rival corpus, the Four Books, in the twelfth century. She then analyzes each of the Five Classics, discussing when they were written, how they were transmitted and edited in later periods, and what political, historical, and ethical themes were associated with them through the ages. Finally she deliberates on the intertwined fates of Confucius and the Five Classics over the course of the twentieth century and shows how the contents of the Five Classics are relevant to much newer concerns.

This is an endeavor of a Western Christian Episcopalian] to find teachings of the Church in the East since 1054CE. Many of these are taken from the time spent during seminary and doctrinal classes.

The enduring wisdom of the Tao Te Ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.Reportedly written by a sage named Lao Tzu over 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the most succinct - and yet among the most profound - spiritual texts ever written. Short enough to read in an afternoon, subtle enough to study for a lifetime, the Tao Te Ching distills into razor - sharp poetry centuries of spiritual inquiry into the Tao - the "Way" of the natural world around us that reveals the ultimate organizing principle of the universe.Derek Lin's insightful commentary, along with his new translation from the original Chinese - a translation that sets a whole new standard for accuracy - will inspire your spiritual journey and enrich your everyday life. It highlights the Tao Te Ching's insights on simplicity, balance, and learning from the paradoxical truths you can see all around you: finding strength through flexibility (because bamboo bends, it is tough to break); achieving goals by transcending obstacles (water simply flows around rocks on its way to the sea); believing that small changes bring powerful results (a sapling, in time, grows into a towering tree).Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Lao Tzu's words even if you have no previous knowledge of the Tao Te Ching. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes helpful historical background, explains the Tao Te Ching's poetic imagery, and elucidates the ancient Taoist wisdom that will speak to your life today and energize your spiritual quest.

In these lectures Steiner deals with the experiences of the human soul during and after death. On the basis of precise clairvoyant observations, he describes the events experienced during the millennium of the soul's journey within the vast realms of soul and spirit between death and rebirth. Steiner describes the states of consciousness experienced by our deceased loved ones and how we-by considering their new consciousness-can communicate with them and even help them. Reading these descriptions, it becomes clear that excarnated souls need the spiritual support of those presently incarnated, and that those still on earth, in turn, derive enlightenment and support from their former earthly companions.

An unabridged edition (with photographs) to include: Wherein I Bow to the Reader - A Prelude to the Quest - A Magician Out of Egypt - I Meet A Messiah - The Anchorite of the Adyar River - The Yoga Which Conquers Death - The Sage Who Never Speaks - With The Spiritual Head of South India - The Hill of the Holy Beacon - Among The Magicians And Holy Men - The Wonder-Worker of Benares - Written in the Stars - The Garden of the Lord - At the Parsee Messiah's Headquarters - A Strange Encounter - In a Jungle Hermitage - Tablets of Forgotten Truth

Discover the spiritually incisive strategies for peacefully resolving conflictin this masterpiece of military strategy.Written 2,500 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War is a poetic and potent treatise on military strategy still in use in war colleges around the world. Yet its principles transcend warfare and have practical applications to all the conflicts and crises we face in our lives - in our workplaces, our families, even within ourselves.Thomas Huynh guides you through Sun Tzu's masterwork, highlighting principles that encourage a perceptive and spiritual approach to conflict, enabling you to:* Prevent conflicts before they arise* Peacefully and quickly resolve conflicts when they do arise* Act with courage, intelligence and benevolence in adversarial situations* Convert potential enemies into friends* Control your emotions before they control youNow you can experience the effectiveness of Sun Tzu's teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of The Art of War. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing - page commentary explains the subtleties of the text, allowing you to unlock the power of its teachings and help prevent and resolve the conflicts in your own life.

Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January 1863 and died on 4th July 1902. He was also known as Narendra Nath Datta. He was a firm advocate of Vendatta Philosophies and Yoga. He was a disciple of Guru Ramakrishna and founded Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. Karma-Yoga Karma in its Effect on Character Each is great in his own place The Secret of Work What is Duty? We help ourselves, not the world Non-attachment is complete self-abnegation Freedom The Ideal of Karma-Yoga

Fascinating stories of Himalayan Mystics and real life experiences of the author with one of them - Babaji of Nainital District in the Himalayas

About the Contributor(s): James M. Robinson is Professor of Religion Emeritus at Claremont Graduate University, where he was founder and director of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity. As permanent secretary of UNESCO's International Committee for the Nag Hammadi Codices, he edited The Coptic Gnostic Library, reprinted in five volumes (2000); among his many other publications is Language, Hermeneutic, and History.

11 lectures, Hamburg May 16-28, 1910 (CW 120) Why do people en-counter such different events and circumstances in life? What is behind diseases, accidents, and natural disasters? Rudolf Steiner speaks of karma as a reality that, if we understand it, answers the questions that arise as we begin to look seriously for life's meaning and purpose. We create our own karma in every area of existence, laying the foundation in one incarnation for the next. The whole pattern is not contained in one but in many lives on earth. Steiner tells us that we can gain acceptance and a sense of purpose by recognizing that self-induced karma is always in the process of being resolved. About karma and animals; health and illness; the curability and incurability of diseases; accidents; volcanoes, earthquakes, and epidemics; the karma of higher beings; free will in the future of human evolution; and individual and shared karma. "By exploring the more hidden aspects of a whole range of life phenomena in the light of the evolution of our planet Rudolf Steiner raises our consciousness to the vital role we play in helping or hindering the powers which serve the world's evolvement" (from the foreword). This book is a translation from German of Die Offenbarung des Karma (Ga 120).

This collection of special prayers is a wonderful companion for parents and caregivers and will help guide children on their journey to adulthood. It includes verses for every occasion?for parents to recite as the incarnating soul prepares for birth, for the baby after birth, and for children of all ages. Also included are prayers for morning and evening and graces for mealtimes. A lecture by Rudolf Steiner provides context for the prayers, offering insight into the greater cosmic relationships in which individuals are immersed before birth, during life, and after death.

Recently discovered in the Ba-Chit caves of western China, the previously unknown Wu Wu Jing has been translated (more or less) by Takasido Yakitori. 'Wu' means 'no' or 'not' so 'Wu Wu' is a negation of a negation, commonly taken to mean 'Koans of Questionable Provenance'. The Wu Wu Jing contains entirely new and unknown koans commented on by three previously unknown zen masters. A 'must have' for all serious (and not so serious) zen koan collectors. Don't let your collection be sadly incomplete. You can lord it over others who have not absorbed the unusual wisdom of the Wu Wu Jing. Superior and more complete wisdom is yours for the taking. Be the first to absorb the comical wisdom of the Great Wu Wu Jing. If you don't, you'll probably be humiliated and embarrassed in front of all your friends. Don't let this happen to you. Sink into and absorb the great essence of the old masters as written in the Great Wu Wu Jing. A modern classic. "I confess I'm only half serious. But which half?" - Zen master Ding-Dong

The life of the Buddha in his own words - the evolution of his thought, his triumphs, and the rarely portrayed tragedy at the end of his life - all told from the original texts. The man we know as the Buddha lived in Northern India around 500BC and introduced the teaching known as Buddhism. Approximately 300 years after his death, an extensive oral history of the movement was written down, carried and copied throughout Asia, and this canon is became the taproot of the entire Buddhist tradition. Framed in a most unusual and personal context, Buddha - Triumph And Tragedy In The Life Of The Great Sage tells the extraordinary life of the man, start to finish.

Cultures of noble warrior protectors are found throughout all ages of humankind in countless civilizations across the globe. A few brave men and women choose to put the welfare and security of their neighbors ahead of their own, and take to the battlefield to stop any invaders who would violate their community.

For the aware warrior, many clashes bring much insight. Through facing death we find deeper truths about life. After enduring much heartbreaking bloodshed, we are moved to build a powerful peace where all families' children may grow up in health and happiness.

Wayne Omura writes of his insights into the ages-old struggle of the warrior who puts others ahead of self on dangerous battlefronts. Enjoy his words, wrestle with his observations, and see what realizations come to your mind after all the campaigns of your life.

Stephen K. Hayes

Black Belt Hall of Fame

Founder, To-Shin Do Ninja Heritage Martial Arts

StephenKHayes.com

I highly recommend "Warriors of Life" for all martial artists. Omura deals with the wisdom and meaning of the martial arts as it applies to everyday life. The sayings and philosophy can be approached and interpreted in various individual ways. This book can be used to hone anyone's path to perfection.

Heinz Schlue

5th Dan Nippon Kan Aikido

5th Dan Shin Go Ju Ryu Karate

3rd Dan Yawara Jutsu

Wayne Omura lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of "Movies and the Meaning of Life: The Most Profound Films in Cinematic History" and "Zen Foot-Notes: Upon the Unknown Passage."

The collection Let Us Start with Africa: Foundations of Rastafari Scholarship commemorates the inaugural Rastafari Studies Conference, held in August 2010, and collects, for the first time, some of the main thinkers on Rastafari. It is an exciting and wide-ranging text that provides insights on the last fifty years of investigations into Rastafari. This book offers some of the most significant unpublished work from pioneering scholars of Rastafari as they examine the history, development and future of Rastafari scholarship. With a foreword by renowned Garvey scholar Rupert Lewis and a comprehensive introduction by the editors, this collection is essential reading for students of Rastafari studies, as well as African and Caribbean studies. Contributors: Roy Augier, Barry Chevannes, John Homiak, Erin MacLeod, Rex Nettleford, Jahlani Niaah, Mortimo Planno. Co-published with the Rastafari Studies Initiative, University of the West Indies.

John's Book of Revelation -- the Apocalypse -- has been subjected to countless interpretations by theologians over the years, mostly based on theory and speculation. In contrast, Rudolf Steiner spoke from his own direct experience and knowledge of the spiritual truths contained in St. Johns mysterious pictures.

Although he had previously presented his insights tin the Book of Revelation a number of times, in 1924 Steiner ventured to give a completely new perspective -- in response to requests by priests of the Christian Community -- by relating the subject closely to the work of the modern priest.

These priests felt the need to achieve a closer relationship with the Book of Revelation, he wrote later:

The remarkable discussions in this book took place between Rudolf Steiner and workers at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. The varied subject matter was chosen by the audience at Steiner's instigation. Steiner took questions and generally offered immediate answers. The astonishing nature of his responses -- their insight, knowledge, and spiritual depth -- testifies to his outstanding ability as a spiritual initiate and profound thinker. Accessible, entertaining and stimulating, the records of these sessions will be a delight to any open-minded reader.

Here Steiner covers topics ranging from elephants to Einstein. Among other things, he discusses ants, bees, shells, skeletons, animal and plant poisons, bodily secretions, protein and fats, potatoes, the human eye, water, animal migration, clothing, opium and alcohol, and thinking.